Absolutely! Here’s your full guide to a Philadelphia City Tour β perfect for exploring the birthplace of American independence, plus its world-class food, street art, and vibrant neighborhoods. Whether you’re into history, cheesesteaks, murals, or museums, Philly has a tour for you. ποΈπ§πΆββοΈπ¨
ποΈ Philadelphia City Tour Overview
Philadelphia (aka Philly) is rich with U.S. history, iconic landmarks, and walkable charm. A city tour typically includes:
- Historic Old City (Independence Hall, Liberty Bell)
- The vibrant Museum District
- Murals and street art
- Famous foods like cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, and roast pork sandwiches
π Top City Tour Options in Philadelphia
π Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour
Great for first-time visitors or those short on time! Hop-on Hop-off Philadelphia
Top Provider:
- Big Bus Tours Philadelphia
π Includes stops at:
- Liberty Bell & Independence Hall
- Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky Steps)
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Betsy Ross House
- Reading Terminal Market
- LOVE Park
π§ Audio or live guide
π΅ ~$35β$50 per person
πΆββοΈ Walking Tours
Perfect for exploring Phillyβs historic neighborhoods on foot.
Popular Themes:
- Founding Fathers & Constitution Tour
- Ben Franklin & Revolutionary War Tour
- Ghost Tours of Old City
- South Philly Food Tour (hello, cheesesteaks)
- Mural Arts Tour β See why Philly is the mural capital of the world
π΅ ~$25β$40 per person
π² Bike & Segway Tours
Fun, active way to explore city parks, neighborhoods, and river trails.
- Guided bike tours available in Fairmount Park and along the Schuylkill River Trail
- Segway Tours around the Art Museum area and Pennβs Landing
- E-bike rentals also available
ποΈ Museum & Historic Site Tours
Perfect for culture and history lovers.
Donβt miss:
- π½ Independence Hall (free, reserve timed tickets in advance)
- π Liberty Bell Center
- π§΅ Betsy Ross House
- πΌοΈ Philadelphia Museum of Art
- π§ Franklin Institute
- π Eastern State Penitentiary (amazing day or haunted night tours)
π§βπ³ Food Tours
Yes, Philly is a food city.
Top options include:
- Italian Market Food Tour
- Reading Terminal Market Tastings
- Cheesesteak Crawl β Genoβs, Patβs, Jimβs, and more
- Amish Treats & Philly Eats Tour
π΅ ~$45β$70 (food usually included)
π Must-See Stops on a City Tour
- ποΈ Independence Hall
- π Liberty Bell
- π¨ Philadelphia Museum of Art + Rocky Statue
- ποΈ Murals in South and West Philly
- ποΈ Reading Terminal Market
- π LOVE Park
- π§ The Franklin Institute
- π§± Elfrethβs Alley β Americaβs oldest residential street
- π³ Spruce Street Harbor Park or Race Street Pier (seasonal)
π« Tour Bundles & Passes
π¦ Philadelphia Sightseeing Pass / Go City Pass
Includes:
- Big Bus Tour
- Museum of the American Revolution
- Franklin Institute
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Ghost & history walking tours
π° Save 40β50% if visiting multiple attractions
π² Mobile pass makes entry easy
β¨ Sample One-Day Philly City Tour Itinerary
Morning:
- Start at Independence Hall (free with timed ticket)
- See the Liberty Bell
- Walk to Elfrethβs Alley
- Quick snack at Reading Terminal Market
Afternoon:
- Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art (run the Rocky Steps!)
- Grab lunch in the Fairmount area
- Take a Mural Arts or Segway Tour
Evening:
- Stroll along the Delaware River Waterfront
- Dinner in Old City or South Philly (Italian Market)
- End with a ghost tour or drinks at a historic pub
π² Helpful Apps & Tools
- www.visitphilly.com β Official tourism guide
- Big Bus Tours App β Real-time bus tracking
- Go City / Sightseeing Pass App β Mobile pass access
- GPSmyCity β Self-guided audio walking tours
- Indego Bike Share β Bike rental info + maps
Want a custom Philadelphia itinerary (historic highlights, foodie crawl, date day, or family fun)? Just tell me your vibe and Iβll plan it for you! ποΈπ₯¨π§
Absolutely! Here’s your Philadelphia City Tour FAQ β a quick, helpful guide to everything you need to know about exploring the City of Brotherly Love. πΊπΈπ§ποΈ Whether you’re into history, art, food, or architecture, Philly has something for you.
π¦ Philadelphia City Tour β FAQ
πΉ 1. Whatβs the best way to tour Philadelphia?
Philly is very walkable, and the best ways to explore are:
- πΆββοΈ Walking Tours β Perfect for the historic district & food neighborhoods
- π Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours β Great overview with 25+ stops
- π΄ Bike or Segway Tours β Fun for the art & riverfront districts
- ποΈ Self-Guided Museum or History Tours β Especially near Independence Mall
- π± DIY with audio tour apps or Go City Pass
πΉ 2. Are there hop-on hop-off tours in Philadelphia?
β Yes! The Big Bus Tour is the most popular.
π Stops include:
- Independence Hall
- Liberty Bell
- LOVE Park
- Museum of Art (Rocky Steps)
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Betsy Ross House
π§ Live guides or audio narration
π΅ ~$35β$50 for a 1-day pass
πΉ 3. What are the top attractions to see on a city tour?
Must-see stops:
- ποΈ Independence Hall (birthplace of America!)
- π Liberty Bell
- π Betsy Ross House
- π¨ Philadelphia Museum of Art + Rocky Statue
- ποΈ Reading Terminal Market
- ποΈ Mural Arts Tours β street art across the city
- π Eastern State Penitentiary β historic prison turned museum
- π LOVE Park
πΉ 4. Can I tour Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell?
β Yes β and theyβre free!
- Independence Hall requires a free timed ticket (MarchβDec)
- Liberty Bell Center is free and doesnβt require tickets
ποΈ Book Independence Hall tickets in advance online at nps.gov
πΉ 5. Are there walking tours in Philadelphia?
Absolutely β Phillyβs one of the best walking cities in the U.S.
Popular walking tours:
- βοΈ Historic Old City
- π» Ghost Tours (spooky fun at night)
- π Food Tours (cheesesteaks, Italian Market, Reading Terminal)
- ποΈ Mural Arts Tours
π΅ ~$25β$60 per person
π§ Or download a self-guided tour app and go at your own pace
πΉ 6. Is there a city pass or tour bundle available?
Yes!
π© Go City Philadelphia Pass or Sightseeing Pass
Includes:
- Big Bus Tour
- Eastern State Penitentiary
- Franklin Institute
- Museum of the American Revolution
- Food or walking tours
π° Save 40β50% if youβre doing 3+ attractions
π² Mobile access, no paper tickets needed
πΉ 7. Whatβs a good tour for foodies?
π§ Philly is a top-tier food city!
Great food tours:
- Reading Terminal Market tasting tour
- Italian Market walking tour
- Cheesesteak crawl (try Patβs, Genoβs, Jimβs, or Dalessandroβs)
- Amish treats & local eats
π΄ Many tours include 4β6 tasting stops
πΉ 8. Is Philadelphia family-friendly for tours?
π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ Definitely!
Family-friendly highlights:
- Franklin Institute (interactive science museum)
- Please Touch Museum (for younger kids)
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus (easy for little legs)
- Eastern State Penitentiary (older kids love the spooky stories)
- Rocky Steps & Museum of Art (fun photo op!)
πΉ 9. Whatβs the best time of year to take a city tour?
- πΈ Spring (AprβJun): Great weather + fewer crowds
- π Fall (SeptβNov): Beautiful foliage + cool temps
- βοΈ Summer (JulβAug): Lots of events, but hotβdo morning tours
- βοΈ Winter (DecβFeb): Quieter, festive, and good for museums
π‘ Tip: Always wear comfortable shoes β Philly has cobblestone streets!
πΉ 10. Are tours available in other languages?
Yes!
- Hop-On Hop-Off tours offer audio in multiple languages (check ahead)
- Some private guides offer tours in Spanish, French, German, Chinese, etc.
- Many museums have multilingual brochures and signage
Need help building a custom Philadelphia itinerary β from historic walking routes to mural hunting or foodie adventures? Just tell me your vibe and Iβll map it out for you! π§ πΊπΈπ₯¨